Multiverse: Dimension Hopping Mage

Chapter 86: Racing Against Time

Too slow.

Standing on the altar, the man in the black robe gazed down at the bustling cultists below, his face dark and brooding. He extended his hand, watching the flickering flame in his palm, its shifting glow mirroring his unsettled mood. The dark red light between his fingers grew steadily brighter.

According to the plan, that fool should have already brought the captives to this ruined city. So why was there still no sign of him? Could something have happened? Was there a delay? That shouldn't be the case. The fool had his communication spell; if there were any problems, he should have contacted me immediately...

What the Destruction Mage didn't know was that the bald-headed mage Charles had indeed tried to contact him, but his mind had been locked by Ikaros' interference, preventing him from using any magic at all. This was why the Destruction Mage remained completely unaware of the events unfolding at the camp.

But it was almost reaching the limit.

Snap.

The Destruction Mage stood up and snapped his fingers. A small demon flitting through the sky immediately flew down, kneeling reverently before him.

"Go find out what happened to that idiot."

Hearing the command, the demon screeched, spread its wings, and soared into the sky, circling once before flying toward the mountains.

"Trouble's brewing," a voice muttered.

At the same time, Alex received an update from Ikaros.

"It seems they're suspicious. They've sent a demon to investigate the camp."

"Holding them off this long was already impressive... What should we do? Should I send someone to intercept the demon?" Stone asked.

"You better not," an elder in a bishop's robe replied, his expression stern as he shook his head.

"The demon was summoned by a spellcaster. There's a psychic link between them. Even if you kill the demon, the moment the Destruction Mage senses it, everything we've worked for will be in vain."

"So what's the plan?" Stone frowned.

"We can't just let it go and investigate the camp..."

"I'll handle it," the elder cut him off.

"I'll deal with the demon. That should buy us some time, but..." He glanced at the sky. "If the guiding star appears and the reinforcements haven't arrived, we'll have no choice but to act. Once the Destruction Mage realizes something's wrong, things will get much more complicated."

"Alright."

After thinking it over, Stone reluctantly nodded.

"That's our only option. Please be careful."

"Don't worry." The elder's cold face twisted into a grim smile. "I've lived far longer than you. This kind of thing is easy for me."

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a pair of dark, bat-like wings sprouted from the elder's back. His thin, frail body began to swell, and his once-white hair darkened. In a matter of seconds, the old man, who had looked withered and ancient, transformed into a tall, handsome man. His expression softened, and he now wore a gentle smile that made him appear approachable.

The now-youthful "elder" smiled warmly at Alex, nodding before spreading his wings and shooting into the sky like lightning.

What the hell?!

Alex stared in shock as the "elder" flew off, mouth agape and unsure what to say. He blinked, then looked over at Stone.

Clearly, he needed an explanation.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Stone grinned, clearly enjoying Alex's reaction, before finally offering an explanation.

"Don't be fooled by Bishop Karl's strict and serious demeanor—he's actually a vampire count and a devout follower of the Temple."

"...The Temple has vampires?"

Alex felt like everything he had read before was a lie.

"Of course."

In response to Alex's questioning, Stone nodded.

"The Temple of Order upholds the principle of order. We welcome all who share our values and are willing to join us in the fight to protect order. It doesn't matter what race, profession, or background they come from. As long as they are willing to stand against chaos and protect order, they are our friends."

"But... aren't vampires supposed to drink blood?" Alex was completely confused at this point.

"Of course, typical vampires do need blood. But someone like Bishop Karl, a devout believer, can draw enough power from the Holy Light. Unless he's in an extreme situation, he doesn't need to consume blood."

"So, does that mean there are a lot of vampires in the temple?" Alex was stunned by how far-reaching the temple's influence seemed.

"Of course not." Stone shook his head in response to Alex's question.

"In reality, only a small number of vampires can resist the temptation of blood and join the temple. Most vampires are unable to give up the strength and pleasure that blood provides. They're unable to abandon such wicked behavior, so we only accept those vampires who share our beliefs and are willing to abandon their evil habits."

"And... you're not worried that they might pretend to follow your rules but secretly do something else?" Alex asked, raising a brow.

"Not at all. When these vampires gain strength through the Holy Light, they also take a sacred oath. If they ever break that oath, the Holy Light inside them will turn into fire and burn them to ashes. And it's not just vampires who face this."

"I see..." Alex nodded as he finally understood Stone's explanation. It seemed that the Temple was, in a way, like a rehabilitation center for vampires—helping those who wanted to "kick the habit" of drinking blood. The Temple only accepted vampires who actively sought the guidance of the Holy Light, as Stone put it, while those who continued to indulge in blood and power were their enemies.

"And what about liches?" Alex asked.

"Liches are different." Stone's face turned serious at the mention of liches.

"Vampires can be forgiven because many of them were turned against their will. But liches are different. They willingly forsake their lives to become undead. Liches toy with the souls of mortals, preventing them from resting in peace. That's something we cannot allow. This is why necromancers and liches are always our targets."

"I see..." Alex finally had a clear understanding of the Temple's stance. It wasn't simply about judging individuals based on their identity or origin, but rather their actions. The Temple fought against liches and necromancers not because of what they were, but because they committed the heinous act of disturbing the dead... Thinking of this, Alex made a mental note to hide Malthael and Arthas' soul stones deeper away. It seemed that using them in the main world was no longer an option.

The vampire bishop moved quickly, and before long, Alex and Stone saw him return. However, this time, the elder had a small demon following behind him. The demon no longer had the cunning and malicious look Alex had seen earlier—instead, it had a dull expression, almost like a puppet. Considering the bishop was a vampire, Alex felt he had a pretty good idea of what the elder had done to it.

For now, the crisis had been averted, but the situation was far from resolved.

As time ticked by and night fell, the reinforcements finally arrived just before the last possible moment.

However, they brought even more shocking news.

The Fortress of Order was in grave danger!

(End of Chapter)

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